Weather-proof enclosure for video camera or the like having centrifugal action window cleaner

ABSTRACT

An enclosure for a camera or other surveillance device includes a housing having separable upper and lower housing parts and a front end. A transparent window is rotatably mounted at the front end of the housing and is rotated at a high angular velocity for throwing off water or other matter by action of centrifugal force. Adjustable mounting means is located in the lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device at selected elevations for surveillance through the window.

United States Patent Smith 1451 Apr. 22, 1975 Prinmry Exmniner-John M.Horan Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Donnell). Maky. Renner & Otto [75]Inventor: Jessop Smith, Gates Mills, Ohio [73] Assignee: Triple-SDevelopment Co.. Inc.. [57] ABSTRACT wlckmfe- Ohio An enclosure for acamera or other surveillance de- 221 Fued: Oct 15 1973 vice includes ahousing having separable upper and lower housing parts and a front endvA transparent [21] PP N05 406-223 window is rotatably mounted at thefront end of the housing and is rotated at a high angular velocity for52 11.5. C1. 354/64 throwing Water or ("her by of 151 1m. (:1. 0031117/08 "ifugal force- Adjustable mounting means is located [58] Field ofSearch H 95/] l w 354/64 in the lower housing part for mounting asurveillance device at selected elevations for surveillance through [56]References Cited the UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Claims. Drawing Figures1.056.507 3/l9l3 Cronjager 352/242 a a 6 52 a2 so a2 52 so HWEATHER-PROOF ENCLOSURE FOR VIDEO CAMERA OR THE LIKE HAVING CENTRIFUGALACTION WINDOW CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This applicationpertains to the art of enclosures. and more particularly toweather-proof enclosures for cameras and like surveillance devices.

Cameras and other surveillance devices located outdoors or nearindustrial operations are usually enclosed in a housing for protectingthe surveillance device against adverse weather conditions or industrialcontaminents. The housing has a transparent window through which thedevice views an area or an industrial operation. Rain, snow. dirt.industrial fumes and other contaminents coat the window and interferewith operation of the surveillance device. Frequent cleaning of thewindow is required and the surveillance device is essentially uselessduring periods of severe weather conditions. Mechanical wipers for thewindow wear out rapidly and require frequent replacement. Mechanicalwipers also interfere with the view of the surveillance device andcreate shadows. Dirt particles acted upon by mechanical wipers oftensmudge or abrade the window.

Enclosures of the type described have also been of complex constructionand do not provide a simple elevation adjustment for different types ofsurveillance devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention. anenclosure for a surveillance device includes a housing having atransparent window rotatably mounted at its front end. The window isrotated at a high angular velocity for throwing material therefrom byoperation of centrifugal force. An adjustable mounting device isprovided in the housing for mounting a surveillance device at a selectedelevation for surveillance through the rotating window.

In a preferred arrangement. the housing includes separable upper andlower parts to provide easy access to the interior of the housing. Theupper and lower housing parts are preferably hinged together alonghinged edges extending between the front and rear ends of the housing.Elastomeric gasketing is positioned between the edges of the upper andlower housing parts to completely seal the housing. The upper housingpart has longitudinal edge portions overlapping the longitudinal edgeportions on the lower housing parts.

In a preferred arrangement, the lower housing part has a substantiallyflat bottom wall and opposite sidewalls diverging upwardly therefrom.The upper housing part is arcuately curved generally along the surfaceof a cylinder so that the housing presents a very low profile, andmoisture or dirt easily rolls off.

The adjustable mounting device includes a first bracket secured to thebottom wall of the lower housing part and having upstanding firstbracket flanges. A second bracket has downwardly extending secondbracket flanges releasably clamped to the first bracket flanges forselectively positioning the second bracket at a selective elevation"relative to the bottom wall.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improvedenclosure for a surveillance device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure for asurveillance device with a rotating viewing window to which moisture ordirt will not cling.

A further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure for asurveillance device with a highly simplifled adjustable mounting meansfor a surveillance de vice.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a surveillancedevice housing which is very economical to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofan enclosure for a surveillance device constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view looking generally in the direction ofarrows 2--2 of FIG. 1 and with portions cut away for clarity ofillustration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking generally in thedirection of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an adjustable mounting device;and

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the mounting device of FIG. 4assembled in a different mode.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings.wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferredembodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same.FIGS. 1-3 show an enclosure for a surveillance device constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The enclosure comprises a hollowhousing A having separable upper and lower housing parts B and C.Housing A is preferably constructed of sheet metal. although it will beappreciated that other materials can be used.

Lower housing part C includes a flat rectangular bottom wall 12 havingintegral opposite sidewalls I4 and 16 diverging upwardly therefrom andterminating at vertical longitudinal edge portions 18 and 20. Theopposite ends of lower housing part C are bent radially inward toprovide a continuous peripheral flange 24 extending along bottom wall12, sidewalls l4 and 16, and longitudinal edge portions 18 and 20.

A front end plate D has the outer peripheral edge of its lower halfdimensioned and shaped to correspond with the cross-sectionalconfiguration of lower housing part C. Plate D is positioned againstperipheral flange 24 on lower housing part C and welded thereto.Suitable caulking may be applied along the joint if so desired. Topperipheral edge 26 of the upper half of front plate D lies on theperiphery of a circle which terminates tangent to the outer surfaces oflongitudinal edge portions 18 and 20 on lower housing part C. Frontplate D has a circular hole 30 therethrough for mounting a rotatabletransparent window to the front end of housing A. A rear plate E has thesame shape as front plate D and is secured to the rear end of lowerhousing part C in the same manner as described with reference to frontplate D. Rear plate E does not have a circular hole therethrough. Rearplate E has a circular top edge 32 lying on the surface of a cylinderwhich is also common to top edge 26 of front plate D.

Upper housing part B is formed into a generally semicylindrical shapewhich terminates at tangential longitudinal edge portions 36 and 38parallel to longitudinal edge portions I8 and 20. The inner surface ofupper housing part B lies on the periphery of a circle having a slightlylarger radius than top edges 26 and 32 of end plates D and E so thatlongitudinal edges 36 and 38 overlap longitudinal edges 18 and outwardlythereof. The opposite ends of upper housing part B are bent radiallyinward to provide radially extending peripheral flanges 40 and 42 whichoverlie the upper peripheral portions of end plates D and E outwardlythereof.

A piano hinge 44 is welded to the outer surface of longitudinal edgeportion 20 and the inner surface of longitudinal edge portion 38 forhingedly connecting upper housing part B to lower housing part C alongone overlapped longitudinal edge of housing A. The opposite overlappedlongitudinal edge of housing A defined by longitudinal edge portions 18and 36 have suitable openings therethrough for mounting and receivingone quarter turn type of fasteners 46 for securing edge portion 36 toedge portion 18. A moisture proof key-type of lock F is also mountedcentrally of longitudinal edge portion 18 and has a keeper 48cooperating with a latch 50 on upper housing part B. Lock F is adeterent to vandals who might otherwise use a screwdriver for removingfasteners 46 to gain access to the interior of housing A. Key type oflock F presents more difficulty to vandals and prevents unauthorizedpersons not having a key from gaining access to the interior of housingElastomeric strip gasketing 52, in the form of closed cell plastic orrubber foam, is adhesively secured to upper housing part B. Gasketing 52is positioned to provide a good seal between upper housing part B andtop arcuate edges 26 and 32 of end plates D and E. Gasketing 52 is alsopositioned to provide a good seal between overlapped edge portions 18and 36, and 20 and 38.

A rotatable transparent window unit is mounted to front plate D. Thewindow unit includes a circular frame 56 having a pair of oppositespokes 58 connected thereto and to a central hub 60 having an electricmotor 62 mounted thereon. Circular frame 56 is stepped as at 64 forreception through opening 30 in plate D and to provide a circumferentialshoulder 66. A circular gasket 68 is positioned between shoulder 66 andthe outer surface of plate D adjacent opening 30. A circular securingring 70 is secured to circular frame 56 by screws 72, securing ring 70is positioned inside of front end plate D. Spacer pads 78 welded to theinner surface of plate D adjacent opening 30 bear against securing ring70 so that tightening of screws 72 will draw shoulder 66 toward plate Dand tightly com press gasket 68 to provide a good seal.

A circular transparent window 80 of tempered glass or other suitablematerial has a central hole therethrough. Center mounts 82 positioned onopposite sides of window 80 adjacent the central hole therethrough mountwindow 80 on the shaft of motor 62. A cap 84 is a snap fit on the outerone of center mounting members 82. Window 80 has a circular rim 86secured to its outer periphery. Circular frame 56 and circular rim 86have overlapping circumferential flanges 88 and 90 to provide a tortuouspath for preventing moisture or dirt from passing between frame 56 andrim 86. At least one of spokes 58 is hollow and electrical wiring 92extends therethrough for connection with motor 62.

A black disc 94 of hardboard or the like has a radial slot 96 thereinreceiving motor 62. The outer peripheral portion of disc 94 is securedto securing ring by screws 72. A camera or other surveillance device ispositioned so that its lens views through slot 96. Black disc 94 blocksout the remainder of window to minimize glare on the lens of thesurveillance device. Disc 94 has a smaller slot spaced from viewing slot96 and positioned rearwardly of one spoke S8 in FIG. 1 for receivingwiring 92.

Motor 62 is operated for rotating window 80 at a high angular velocity,such as around l5002200 rpm. Moisture or dirt contacting the outersurface of window 80 is rapidly thrown outwardly therefrom. Thismaintains window 80 substantially clear of moisture or dirt to minimizeany distortion or interference with the view presented to a surveillancedevice positioned within housing A.

Bottom wall 12 of lower housing part C has a suitable sealed entrance102 adjacent rear plate E for an electrical cable connected with motor62 and a surveillance device.

A closed circuit television camera, a motion picture camera, aninfra-red sensor, or other types of remote surveillance devices may bepositioned within housing A. A camera is shown at G in F1G.2 and has alens 104 positioned closely adjacent disc 94 for viewing through slot 96and window 80. Surveillance devices of the type described come in manyshapes and sizes, and an ad justable mounting means is provided inhousing A for positioning various types and sizes of surveillance devices for viewing through slot 96. In one arrangement, the adjustablemounting means comprises a bottom or first generally U-shaped bracket Hhaving a base 106 and opposite upright flanges 108. First bracket base106 is spot welded generally centrally to bottom wall 12. An upper orsecond U-shaped bracket 1 has a base 112 and opposite depending flanges114. Base 112 of second bracket 1 has an elongated slot 116 extendinglongitudinally thereof over less than two-thirds of the distance betweenflanges 114. A mounting bolt on a surveillance device is adapted toextend through slot 116 and be clamped to base 112 by a nut.Longitudinal adjustment of the surveillance device for positioning itslens or sensor closely adjacent plate 94 is made simply by shifting themounting bolt relative to slot 116. For extremely long surveillancedevices, bracket 1 may be reversely positioned so that slot 116 islocated closer to rear plate E than front plate D. Having slot 116extend no more than two-thirds of the distance between flanges 114leaves base 112 relatively stiff to prevent its bending by heavysurveillance devices. At the same time, slot 116 effectively extendssubstantially the full length between flanges 114 for mounting purposesdue to the reversability of top bracket l.

Rectangular spacer plates 118 cooperate with brackets H and 1, and haveopposite sets of spacer holes 120 and 122 therein, Flanges 108 and 114have centrally located vertical slots 124 and 126 therein. Bolt and nutassemblies 128 cooperate with either set of spacer holes 120 or 122, andwith slots 124 and 126, to releasably clamp brackets H and 1 together,with base 112 of bracket 1 located at any desired elevation relative tobottom wall 12 of lower housing part C. Spacer plates 118 may bepositioned with their long dimension extending horizontal as shown inFIG. 5 for a very low profile. Adjustment upward may be made from thispo' sition by loosening bolt and nut assemblies 128 for sliding bracket1 and plates 118 upwardly relative to bottom bracket H. For higherelevations. plates H8 are positioned with their longest dimensionextending vertically as shown in FIG. 4. Bolt and nut assemblies [28then extend through set of holes 122 for increasing the elevation ofbase 112 relative to bottom wall [2. FIG. 4 shows base H2 in its maximumelevation. while FIG. 5 shows base 112 in its lowest elevation.Obviously. selective adjustment to any location between the minimum andmaximum elevation shown is possible.

Base 106 of bottom bracket H has a plurality of iongitudinally-spacedholes 130 therethrough aligned with a like number oflongitudinally-spaced holes 132 in bottom wall 12 of lower housing partC. Nuts 134 are tack welded to the upper surface of base [06 withthreaded holes [36 therein aligned with holes 130 and I32. Thesemounting holes receive bolts for mounting housing A to any desirabletype of mounting member. The housing may then be secured to a fixed,adjustable, panning, or panning and tilting mount.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to apreferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent alterations andmodifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the readingand understanding of this specification. The present invention includesall such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited onlyby the scope of the claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property isclaimed are defined as follows:

1. An enclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; a housing havingseparable upper and lower housing parts and a front end, a transparentwindow rotatably mounted at said front end, drive means for rotatingsaid window at a high angular velocity, adjustable mounting means insaid lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device at selectedelevations for surveillance through said window, said lower housing parthaving a substantially flat bottom wall and opposite sidewalls extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom,

said adjustable mounting means including a first bracket secured to saidbottom wall and having upstanding first bracket flanges, a secondbracket having downwardly extending second bracket flanges releasablyclamped to said first bracket flanges for selectively positioning saidsecond bracket at a plurality of selective elevations relative to saidbottom wall, and bracket spacer plate means releasably clamped to saidflanges.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said first bracket has a firstbracket base secured to said bottom wall,

said bottom wall having a plurality of longitudinallyspaced mountingholes therethrough. and said first bracket base having a plurality ofthreaded holes aligned with said mounting holes.

3. An enclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; a housing havingseparable upper and lower housing parts and a front end, a transparentwindow rotatably mounted at said front end, drive means for rotatingsaid window at a high angular velocity, adjustable mounting means insaid lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device at selectedelevations for surveillance through said window, said lower housing parthaving a substantially flat bottom wall and opposite sidewalls extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom, said adjustable mounting meansincluding a first bracket secured to said bottom wall and havingupstanding first bracket flanges, a second bracket having downwardlyextending second bracket flanges releasably clamped to said firstbracket flanges for selectively positioning said second bracket at aplurality of selective elevations relative to said bottom wall, saidflanges having substantially vertical slots therein, and releasableclamping means extending through said slots for releasably clamping saidfirst and second bracket flanges together.

4. An enclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; a substantiallysealed housing having separable upper and lower housing parts of whichthe lower housing part has a front end having a circular frame withopposite horizontal spokes and a central hub, a transparent circularwindow rotatably mounted within said frame and in front of said spokesand hub, a motor supported in said housing by said hub having a driveshaft connected to the center of said window for rotatably driving saidwindow at a high angular velocity, vertically adjustably mounting meansin said lower housing part rearwardly of said motor for mounting asurveillance device at selected elevations for surveillance through saidwindow above said motor, and means rearwardly of said window and framefor blocking transmission of light through said window to the interiorof said housing except in a small open area above said motor, said meansfor blocking transmission of light comprising an opaque disc memberrearwardly of said spokes and hub and having a central opening throughwhich said motor extends rearwardly and said small open area comprisinga generally vertical slot in said disc member above said motor.

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1. An enclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; a housing havingseparable upper and lower housing parts and a front end, a transparentwindow rotatably mounted at said front end, drive meAns for rotatingsaid window at a high angular velocity, adjustable mounting means insaid lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device at selectedelevations for surveillance through said window, said lower housing parthaving a substantially flat bottom wall and opposite sidewalls extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom, said adjustable mounting meansincluding a first bracket secured to said bottom wall and havingupstanding first bracket flanges, a second bracket having downwardlyextending second bracket flanges releasably clamped to said firstbracket flanges for selectively positioning said second bracket at aplurality of selective elevations relative to said bottom wall, andbracket spacer plate means releasably clamped to said flanges.
 1. Anenclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; a housing havingseparable upper and lower housing parts and a front end, a transparentwindow rotatably mounted at said front end, drive meAns for rotatingsaid window at a high angular velocity, adjustable mounting means insaid lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device at selectedelevations for surveillance through said window, said lower housing parthaving a substantially flat bottom wall and opposite sidewalls extendingoutwardly and upwardly therefrom, said adjustable mounting meansincluding a first bracket secured to said bottom wall and havingupstanding first bracket flanges, a second bracket having downwardlyextending second bracket flanges releasably clamped to said firstbracket flanges for selectively positioning said second bracket at aplurality of selective elevations relative to said bottom wall, andbracket spacer plate means releasably clamped to said flanges.
 2. Theenclosure of claim 1 wherein said first bracket has a first bracket basesecured to said bottom wall, said bottom wall having a plurality oflongitudinally-spaced mounting holes therethrough, and said firstbracket base having a plurality of threaded holes aligned with saidmounting holes.
 3. An enclosure for a surveillance device, comprising; ahousing having separable upper and lower housing parts and a front end,a transparent window rotatably mounted at said front end, drive meansfor rotating said window at a high angular velocity, adjustable mountingmeans in said lower housing part for mounting a surveillance device atselected elevations for surveillance through said window, said lowerhousing part having a substantially flat bottom wall and oppositesidewalls extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said adjustablemounting means including a first bracket secured to said bottom wall andhaving upstanding first bracket flanges, a second bracket havingdownwardly extending second bracket flanges releasably clamped to saidfirst bracket flanges for selectively positioning said second bracket ata plurality of selective elevations relative to said bottom wall, saidflanges having substantially vertical slots therein, and releasableclamping means extending through said slots for releasably clamping saidfirst and second bracket flanges together.